Zoho, a global technology company, is expanding its investment in Africa’s digital future through the growth of its Young Creators Program (YCP), which offers hands-on training in low-code application development.
The initiative recently completed a series of workshops across East Africa, training more than 150 students and professionals in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Madagascar to design and deploy business applications using Zoho Creator, the company’s platform.
The expansion comes as East Africa’s rapidly growing tech sector places a premium on accessible tools that allow users without extensive coding experience to build digital solutions. By partnering with local institutions in each country, Zoho aims to meet the demand for practical, market-ready skills.
“Through the Young Creators Program, we are helping students and professionals across East Africa gain the tools and confidence to turn their ideas into impactful digital solutions,” Veerakumar Natarajan, Regional Manager, Zoho East Africa told Afcacia. “Our goal is to make technology education accessible and practical, empowering young innovators to solve local challenges and shape Africa’s digital future.”
A key component of the training involves introducing participants to CoCreator, the platform’s AI assistant. Attendees learned to leverage AI to accelerate development, allowing them to build fully functional applications simply by describing their business needs in natural language. The curriculum also covered essential low-code capabilities—including forms, reports, workflows, and analytics—designed to encourage entrepreneurship and local digital transformation.
In Kenya, a workshop hosted at EldoHub drew developers and entrepreneurs, including Leonard Bett, a top steeplechase athlete, who attended to build a digital performance analysis platform. “Zoho’s low-code platform opens opportunities for anyone to innovate, regardless of their background,” said Sarah Towet, Co-Founder & Programs Lead, Eldohub. “Our partnership demonstrates how technology can empower young people and professionals alike to create impactful solutions in their communities.”
The focus on inclusivity was clear in Uganda, where Zoho partnered with the Women in Software Engineering Uganda group. The session specifically aimed to empower women to use low-code development for process automation and digital entrepreneurship.
“Our collaboration with Zoho aligns perfectly with our mission to upskill and empower women through technology,” said Primera Muthoni, CEO & Founder Women in Software Engineering Uganda. “We are proud to see participants leave with confidence and ability to build apps that drive innovation and financial independence.”
The expansion marked Zoho’s first Young Creators Program in Tanzania, held at the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), and a session in Madagascar, held in collaboration with the premium partner BrainSolutions.
“This program has given our students invaluable exposure to industry-grade tools,” said (Dr. Haji Fimbombaya, Head of Department, Computer Studies – Dar Es Salaam Institute of Technology. “It compliments our curriculum and helps prepare graduates to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving digital economy.”
For many participants, the program offered a practical entry point into the tech sector. “We are proud to witness the impact that initiatives like YCP can have on young talent in Madagascar,” said Anna Andruamialivelo, Tech Lead at BrainSolutions Madagascar. “Collaborating with Zoho through BrainSolutions has allowed us to introduce accessible, practical, and high-value digital skills to participants who are eager to learn and innovate. Seeing beginners gain the confidence to transform their ideas into real applications using low-code tools has been truly inspiring. This partnership not only strengthens our local ecosystem but also opens new opportunities for the next generation of Malagasy developers.”
Since its launch in 2022, the Young Creators Program has trained over 4,000 participants worldwide, positioning itself as a key effort by Zoho to equip the next generation with the digital literacy needed for technology-driven careers and entrepreneurial ventures.